In the house

31 Jan 201905:20am IST

31 Jan 201905:20am IST

State to have street light policy

Porvorim: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has proposed to formulate Street Light Policy in view of the confusion revolving around which government agency should be held responsible for maintaining the street lights.

“There is always a misconception that only electricity department is responsible for street lights. It is not so. We want to come up with Street Light Policy that will ensure the Electricity Department is given (sole) responsibility of setting up the electricity poles and also its maintenance. It will ensure the street lights are not lit during the day,” he told the House on Wednesday.

His statement came in response to apprehension raised by Congress MLA Ravi Naik during Zero Hour mention on a damaged pole on the NH-4A from Farmagudi to Mangueshi. Cabral informed that the pole, causing danger to the people, was removed by the electricity department while also adding that it was erected by PWD. He added that many other electricity poles are also placed by GSUDA and GSIDC besides the electricity department and PWD. Hence, he added, the proposed policy will not lead to any misguidance and inconvenience.

The minister has assured to take into confidence ministers as well as local panchayats in formulating the proposed policy. “I have written to the panchayats. I will take into confidence everyone. I have also spoken to CM, Mauvin Godinho, Milind Naik and GSIDC,” he added.

Assembly condoles late PM Vajpayee

Porvorim: The Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and 58 other noted personalities who passed away during the intersession period. The members of the State assembly paid their condolence by observing silence for one minute.

Porvorim: Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte has assured the Goa Legislative Assembly to seek opinion into the reported lease of about 1 lakh sq mtr each of River Zuari and Sancoale areas to private companies for setting up marinas.

The lease was given by the Mormugao Port Trust during the tenure of the then Congress government in October 2010. “We will take legal opinion and take suitable action because it comprises of the Centre and State. It should not supersede,” he said in response to a Calling Attention Motion by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco.

The legislator had raised fear and anxiety on the reported lease of about 1 lakh sq mtrs each of River Zuari area at Nauxim (St Andre constituency) and Sancoale (Cortaliim constituency) locations by the MPT to private companies for setting up marinas for crafts/small boats/ yachts, etc. He also sought action government proposed to take on the issue to safeguard its ownership rights over the two river areas as declared under section 14 (1) of Goa Land Revenue Code.

Congress legislator Luizinho Faleiro suggested that government inquire into the total number of years these areas were leased out to the private firms, based on which decisions could be taken.

Alemao wants a stop to harassment of locals and tourists in Colva

Porvorim: NCP MLA Churchill Alemao sought to know from the government measures to stop harassment to the locals and tourists in Colva. Speaking during the Zero Hour mention on Wednesday, the former minister alleged that Colva police and traffic personnel as well as the RTO officials were harassing visitors to the beach.

“Colva is a tourist attraction but harassment by the police, traffic police and the RTO will further decline tourism. The villagers are also being harassed and in the recent gram sabha meeting, it was decided to move the police station from the village panchayat jurisdiction,” he told the House seeking to know measures to stop the harassment.

Tillari project to be completed by Dec

Porvorim: The long-pending Tillari Irrigation Project (TIP), involving Goa and Maharashtra, is predicted to be completed by December 2019, stated the Economic Survey 2018-19 tabled in the House on Wednesday.

TIP is an inter-state project and is one of the 99 prioritized projects in priority III class. The State has so far availed loan from NABARD to the tune of Rs 443.76 crore from the year 2008-09 and an amount of Rs 5.9 crore has been proposed to be drawn against the expenditure during the current financial year.

“Works are in full swing for envisaged completion by December 2019,” ES stated. Under the project, 30 MLD treatment plant at Tuem and 40 MLD water to irrigate 165ha command are in four villages by pumping water is proposed.

Economic Survey has stated that 556 project affected persons have been paid their compensation in lieu of service in government sector as per the directions of the government.